Draining out Pollachira Ela for Paddy farming during drought season Pollachira Ela folks recently visited HELP Foundations office seeking HELP Foundations support against Chirakkara Panchayat and Jayalal (Chathannoor) MLAs efforts to pump out the water from Pollachira Ela. By the way why this activity at the height of water Scarcity baffles us. There has been widespread protest against the current elected leaders. Few questions we have as Pollachira Ela Wetlands is closely connected to Paravur Lake and moreover it’s a 600 hectare wetland located near Paravur Municipality in Kollam District of Kerala, India. Formerly part of the Chathannoor Granma Panchayat, it is now located in the Chirakkara Grama Panchayat. Polachira is about 5 km south of Chathannoor town and 6 km north east of Paravur town. Chathannoor-Pollachira-Ozhukupara Bund across Road is the main access to Polchira. 1) What is the special interest of the elected folks in pumping water out of the Pollachira Ela Wetland when monsoons have failed us? 2) Why is Jayalal MLA a common factor in all water related issues and his personal interests in these issues of Paravur Lake and Pollachira Ela is contrary to common sense. 3) Why doesn’t common man come out on issues facing their very existence? Human Empowerment & Livelihood Promotion Foundation Why we are more suspicious of the Panchayat and the MLAs motives. We have faced resistance from the MLA with respect to Paravur LAKE and now the shutters are closed which means water is contained within the shallow lake and it’s not discharged to the sea. If water from Pollachira Ela is to be pumped out to Paravur Lake the lake will get flooded, this would mean the low lying areas around the lake would have serious water logging issues. More importantly the shutters will have to be opened up…or rather the administration would be forced…..and much more…? It’s anybody’s guess why such an effort during the peak summer when there is water scarcity and we are have an MLA and his supporters (Panchayat folks) creating water scarcity around Pollachira wetland such that we believe their game plan to undermine the water conservation activities going on in Paravur Lake. The simple answer is water mafia is seen all-around this and it’s an ugly face. Unfortunately the state has banned water tanker Lorries and its going to be water kiosks. Let’s see how it unfolds. Its money, come what may they are out to make a killing. HELP Foundation took up the issue with the concerned authorities to stop draining the water from Pollachira Ela when Drought Protocol is in place throughout the state. How long can we tolerate such nonsensical actions from our elected representatives? Human Empowerment & Livelihood Promotion Foundation .